California Biographies
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176
GEORGE W. CAMERON. The substantial and progressive citizens of Fresno have no
better representative than G. W. Cameron, a successful agriculturist and horticulturist, who
is now serving with eminent satisfaction as county assessor of Fresno county. A son of
Elisha Cameron, he was born May 5, 1836, in Sparta, White county, Tenn. His grandfather,
William Cameron, was born and reared in Scotland. Emigrating to America when a young
man, he located first in North Carolina, from there removing to Sparta, Tenn., where he car-
ried on general farming for several years. Migrating then to northern Alabama, he lived there
until his death at the age of eighty years. He was a deeply religious man, and, like his Scotch
ancestors, was a stanch Presbyterian.
A native of Tennessee, Elisha Cameron spent his entire life in White county, dying at the age
of seventy-two years. He was a farmer by occupation, and was also a successful tanner, own-
ing a large tannery near Sparta. As a man and a citizen he was held in high respect. In politics
he was a Whig, and in religion a Presbyterian. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Hud-
son, was born in South Carolina, a daughter of James Hudson. Mr. Hudson was a native of
Wales, but came to this country when young, and for a number of years resided in South
Carolina. From there he removed with his family to Tennessee, performing the journey with
packhorses, and cutting his way through the cane brakes. Taking up a tract of unbroken
land, he improved a good farm from the wilderness, and in his new home spent his remaining
years. He, too, was a faithful Presbyterian in his religious affiliations. Of his family of
eight boys and four girls all grew to years of maturity, and all but one reared families of
their own. Three of his sons served in the war of 1812. Of the union of Elisha and Mary
(Hudson) Cameron fourteen children were born, eleven daughters and three sons, and of
these two sons and two daughters survive. Two of the sons served in the Confederate army dur-
ing the Civil war, both being in the same regiment and the same company, namely: George
W., of this review, and William Newton, who is now a prosperous banker of Coleman, Tex.
The latter was an officer, serving as second lieutenant of his company.
The oldest son, and the seventh child in order of birth, George W. Cameron grew to manhood
in Sparta, obtaining his early education at a subscription school. Under his father's instruc-
tion he learned the trade of a tanner and currier at Cameron's tanyard, which still retains its
original name, working in the yard until the breaking out of the Civil war, when his father,
being left without help, had to give up the business. At the first call for troops in the spring
of 1861, Mr. Cameron enlisted as a private in Company A, Twenty-fifth Tennessee Confederate
Volunteer Infantry, and took part in several engagements of importance, including those at Fish-
ing Creek, Stone River and Chickamauga. At the battle of Chickamauga, September 19, 1863,
Mr. Cameron received a minie-ball in the left hand, and was taken to Georgia for treatment.
At the hospital gangrene set in, an infected patient spreading the disease through the ward in
which he was confined, and October 18, 1863, Mr. Cameron's forearm had to be amputated.
Honorably discharged from service in February, 1864, Mr. Cameron soon afterward returned
home, arriving in Sparta April 24, 1864. He found his former home a desolate ruin, the
house being demolished, and not an animal left on the place. Going to work as best he
could with his one hand, he managed the farm for five years, making a living. Disposing of
the property in 1869, Mr. Cameron came to California on one of the first railroad trains that
crossed the continent. Locating at Modesto, Stanislaus county, he put in a crop, but not
being pleased with the results of his labors he turned his face eastward. Arriving in Buchanan
county, Mo., he engaged in farming there for a year, and then removed to Arkansas, where
he was similarly employed for two years.
Returning to California in 1874, Mr. Cameron, who had sent his wife and their two children
back to Tennessee, arrived in Modesto one Saturday evening with just $1.75 in his pockets.
Walking out into the country about seven miles, he found employment on a ranch, on which he
remained until after harvest, receiving $30 per month and board. Renting a ranch in the fall,
he put in a crop, sent for his family, and lived on the place five years. In 1879 ne bought a
farm of three hundred and twenty acres, about two and one-half miles north of Modesto, pay-
ing $16 per acre. Erecting a house, barns and all necessary outbuildings, he carried on gen-
eral farming, making a specialty of grain raising. In 1882 Mr. Cameron was elected county
assessor of Stanislaus county on the Democratic ticket, and served for four years. He subse-
quently bought a ranch of six hundred and forty acres in San Luis Obispo county, and managed
that in addition to carrying on his home farm. Selling his Modesto farm in 1894, Mr. Cameron
located in Fresno and engaged in the business of a vineyardist, renting twenty acres of land,
which he devoted to the culture of grapes of various kinds, making a specialty of the raisin
grape. In 1902 he was elected county assessor of Fresno county on the Democratic ticket, re-
ceiving a majority of two hundred and ninety votes, and in January, 1903, took the oath of
office.
While living in Tennessee, Mr. Cameron married Mary Stone, a native of that state, and the
descendant of an old and honored family. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cameron four chil-
dren were born, namely : Jennie, wife of E. Shepherd, of Laton, Cal. ; Emma, who died at
the age of twenty-eight years ; Florrila, who died at the age of eighteen years ; and Forest,
the wife of J. B. Pettit, of Mill Valley, Cal. In 1861 Mr. Cameron was made a Mason in Sparta,
Tenn., and is now a member of Stanislaus Lodge No. 206, F. & A. M. He also belongs to the
Modern Woodmen of America, and Lee Camp, U. C. V., of Fresno, which he has served as
commander. In politics he is one of the leading Democrats of the county, and in religion he is
a consistent member of the Christian Church.